Tenants Who Helped Build Own Homes for £10k Mortgage Reduction Move In
Prima Group tenants who helped build their homes in exchange for a £10,000 mortgage deposit discount have started moving in.
The 27 home development in Wigan saw buyers, called home-partners, commit 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ as part of a shared ownership scheme.
Tasks included labour, painting, decorating, landscaping, administration, marketing and IT support.
The scheme was delivered by housing association, Prima Group, in partnership with charity Housing People Building Communities (HPBC).
It saw the disused St William’s Church and Presbytery converted into 13 apartments with 14 new homes built on adjacent land gifted to HPBC by Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese.
Prima Group made a £4 million capital investment, which, in turn, was supported by a £1.6 million grant from Homes England’s Affordable Homes Programme and Brownfield Land funding through Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Home-partners bought between 10% and 75% stakes in properties with the option to acquire more while paying rent on the remainder.
Chief Executive of Prima Group, John Ghader, said: “Sweat equity is a great example of innovative thinking having a direct positive impact on local people who would otherwise have struggled to afford a deposit to get on the property ladder.
“The partnership has also transformed a disused historic landmark on a derelict brownfield site into a thriving asset for the community.
“By working side-by-side with their future neighbours, home-partners have built strong relationships with each other to create a sense of belonging which fosters a community spirit from the start.”
Chair of HPBC, Reverend Dr Shannon Ledbetter said: “The sweat equity model embodies hope and integrity, offering those in need a hand-up, not a handout.
“Inspired by the values of unity, support and helping others, we've provided affordable, accessible homes for those who might otherwise never have dreamt of it.”
All home-partners previously lived within four miles of the site and 70% resided within one mile.
And 90% were employed in the village of Ince where St William’s is situated.
To involve the local community, volunteering and training opportunities were given to Wigan and Leigh College students so they could experience working on-site, while an outdoor seating area for St William’s Catholic Primary School was created.
Prima Group and HPBC have won five national industry awards for the scheme in the UK Housing Awards, Northern Housing Awards, Housing Innovation Awards and Building Innovation Awards (two titles).